Stages of Fire

Detections

and Extinguishants

From Ginge-Kerr Danmark A/s&

BMTT Corporation S/B

(www. ginge-kerr.com)

What is a fire ?

• A fire is a chemical process out of

control where flammable material

supported by oxygen decompose to

combustion gases and ashes during

heat development

Fire triangle

• The Fire triangle illustrate the three ingredients needed for a fire

SUBLIMATION

HEAT

SOLID

VAPORIZATION

HEAT

MELTING LIQUID

VAPOUR

HEAT

GAS

OXYGEN

EMBER

HEAT SMOKE/GASSES

ASHES

FIRE

FLAMES

OXYGEN

Fire Class NFPA ISO

A Ordinary combustible A

B Flammable liquids B

- Gasses C

C Dry electrical equipment -

D Metals D

Stages of A - Fire

Application: Ordinary combustibles

Ignition: Flame/Heat

Ignition Smoke Flame Heat

Fire build up Time - Hours

Stages of B - FireApplication: Flammable liquids

Ignition: Flame/Spark/Heat

Ignition Flame Heat Smoke

Fire build up Time - Seconds to minutes

Stages of C - Fire (NFPA)

Application: Telecom, Computers i.e.

Ignition: Overheated componentsIgnition Smoke Flame Heat

Fire build up Time - Hours

Stages of C - Fire (NFPA)

Application: Electrical installation

Ignition: Overheated components/Short circuit

Ignition Smoke Flame Heat

Fire build up Time - Minutes to hour

Stages of C - Fire (NFPA)

Application: High power electricity

Ignition: Short circuit/Overheated equipment

Ignition Flame Heat Smoke

Fire build up Time - Seconds to minutes

Stages of A-B-C - Fire (NFPA)

Application: Process industry

Ignition: Flame/Spark/Heat/Short circuit

Ignition Flame Heat Smoke

Fire build up Time - Minutes

Fire Detection

• Heat Fixed - Rate of rise - cable

• Smoke Optical - Ionisation

• HSSD Laser based aspiration

• Beam Sender - Receiver

• Flame UV - IR

Controls

•Conventional Loop identification•Addressable Item identification•Release Double knock

- 2 x Loops- 2 x Addresses- 1 x Loop + 1 x HSSD- 1 x Address +1 x HSSD- Single knock

Extinguishants• Water

• Foam

• Inert Gas

(e.g. Argonite)

• Carbon Dioxide

• Powder

• Halocarbon

Water as Extinguishants

• Water Mist / Fog– Flammable liquids

– Spray fires

– Cooling

– Effective on high Temperature fire

– Local application

– Not suitable for telecommunications,

computer, control rooms, etc

Foam as Extinguishants

• Low expansion– Liquid pool fires

• Medium expansion– Liquid pool fires

• High expansion– Total flooding– Risk of suffocation– Very poor visibility

Argonite as Extinguishants

• Total flooding• Non toxic

• Change O2 level

• No residues • No ozone

depletion• No global warming• Recommended for

occupied area

CO2 as Extinguishants

• Total flooding• Local application• Change of O2 level• “Toxic”• “No residues” • No ozone depletion• Global Warming Potential of 1• Not recommended for occupied area

Powder as Extinguishants

• Flammable liquids

• Spray fires

• Local application

• Stop combustion

• Chemical toxic

• Not clean

• Not recommended for occupied area

FM200 as Extinguishants

• Total flooding• Chemical reaction• Potentially toxic• Chemical residue• No ozone depletion• Global warming potential 2900• Atmospheric lifetime 37 years• Acceptable for occupied area

Survey of Fire ClassClass Materials Primary

ExtinguishantSecondaryExtinguishant

Applications

A Fire in ordinaryCombustionmaterial(Wood, paper, etc.)

Water Powder,Argonite, CO2,Foam, AquaSafe

FabricationIndustry, Stocks,Offices

B Fire in flammableliquids

Foam, AquaSafe Powder,Argonite, CO2,

PetrochemicalIndustry, Stocks

B Fire in flammablegases

Powder,AquaSafe

Argonite, CO2, Natural gasManufacturers,Stocks, GasStations

C Fire in electricalcunductioninstallation

Argonite, CO2 Water Computer rooms,Electrical board,Board room,Archive

D Metal fires Dry sand,Powder

Machine Industry

Selecting Fire Detection

• Time of detection

• Type of combustion

• Adaption to application

• Avoid nuisance alarms

• Response / Activity

• Authorities

Time of Detection

• Alarm level– Smoke– Flame– Heat

• Value of application– Stop not accepted– Reestablishment– Insurance policy

Flame Heat Smoke

Type of Combustion

• Smoke level

• Flame damage

• Heat damage

Adaption to Application

• Process

• Employee habit

• Surrounding

Avoid Nuisance Alarms

• Detection principle

• Installation principle

• System training

• Update employees

Response / Activitity

• Fire instruction plan

• Designated persons

• Training

• Drill

Authorities

• Standards

• Approvals

• Approving bodies

• Fire brigade

Selecting Fire Suppression

• Fire fighting effectiveness

• Discharge damage/effect on equipment

• Installation issues

• Hazards for occupants

• Environmental acceptability

Fire Fighting Effectiveness

• Speed of fire suppression

• Suitability for the fire hazard

• Ability to permeate

• Post-fire hold time

• Risk of re-ignition

Discharge Damage/Effect on Equipment

• Clean up

• Water damage

• Decomposition products and corrosion

• Condensation

• Thermal shock

Installation Issues

• Floor space/weight

• Pipework

• Ease of maintenance

• Refill cost

• Availability of extinguishant

Hazards for Occupants

• Toxicity

• Visibility

• Inhalation

• Safety with live electrical equipment

• Thermal decomposition products

Environmental Acceptability

• Ozone Depletion

• Global Warming

• Atmospheric Lifetime

www.ginge-kerr.dk

www.argonite.com

www.dti.gov.uk/access/ozone.htm

http://ctan.unsw.edu.au/pub/archive/hc/news/wpafb/humanhal.pdf

References

References

www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/fire/lists/

flood.html

www.Harc.org

References

www.mst.dk-

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